Compositie container cap and outer collar



Aug. 30, 1966 w. s. AHRENS COMPOSITE CQNTAINER CAP AND OUTER COLLARFiled Dec. 31, 1964 IIIIIHI'IM at" l I v FIG. 3

INVENTOR Warren S. Ahr s 0 BY M X M 4 74 A'TJ OR United States PatentOffice 3,269,669 Patented August 30, 1966 3,269,609 COMPOSITE CONTAINERCAP AND OUTER COLLAR Warren S. Ahrcns, Milford, Comp, assignor to TheBridgeport Metal Goods Mfg. Co., Bridgeport, Conn., a

corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 422,773 8Claims. (Cl. 222182) The present invention relates to a compositecontainer cap and more particularly to a composite cap comprised of aprimary threaded cap member and an encompassing decorative collar memberreleasably connected together against relative rotation by a lockingdevice formed integrally with the cap parts and automatically operableupon assembly of the collar member onto the cap in telescopingrelationship. The composite cap of the present invention assembled inthis manner may be threaded onto and unthreaded from an associatedcontainer by merely grasping the encompassing collar and turning itrelative to the container. Due to the inherent locking of the cap parts,proper tightening of the composite cap to the degree necessary toprevent leakage from the container is assured and the locked parts ofthe cap may be easily rotated in an unthreading direction with respectto the container to effect removal of the composite cap when it isdesired to refill the container. In addition, the orientation of thelocking structure relative to the cap parts permits removal of thecollar from the primary cap when desired.

With present composite cap constructions comprised of a threaded primarycap and decorative covering, the covering is merely press fit over thecap and the assembled unit attached to the container. Due to the natureof the connection between the cap and cover, however, there is atendency for the cover to slip relative to the cap as the latter isthreaded onto or unthreaded from the container. Such slippage in turnmakes it difficult to properly tighten the cap onto the container toprevent leakage of the contents and also makes it diflicult to removethe composite cap from the container when it is desired to refill thecontainer.

According to the teachings of the present invention, a composite caphaving a primary threaded cap and an encompassing cylindrical collar arereleasably secured together by a plurality of longitudinally extendingand oppositely facing locking edges formed on the inner surface of thecollar. These locking edges extend inwardly of the collar and bite intothe outer surface of the primary cap which is adapted to be frictionallyretained within the collar and which for purposes of receiving thelocking edges is made of deformable material. The locking edges byfacing in opposite directions about the circumference of the cap andcollar effectively prevent relative rotation of these parts in eitherthe clockwise or counterclockwise direction, yet due to theirlongitudinal relationship with the cap and collar, the collar may beseparated from the cap when desired by forcing the parts axially in theopposite directions. Also, the particular orientation of the lockingedges on the collar readily effects an automatic locking of the collaronto the cap when the parts are telescoped over each other.

Having described the present invention in general terms, a more completeunderstanding thereof will be obtained from the reading of the followingdetailed description with reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled composite cap with theassociated container shown in phantom lines,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the decorative collar, and

FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the composite cap of the present invention comprisesa primary cup-shaped valve cap 1 having a top 2 and an internallythreaded skirt portion 3. This primary cap is adapted to be threadedonto the threaded opening of a suitable container shown in phantom linesat 4. The primary cap 1 is preferably made of plastic material and has.at least an outer surface along the cylindrical skirt 3 that isdeformable for reasons more fully described below.

Connected to the primary cap is an axially depressible valve tube 5which extends along the longitudinal axis of the container 4. This valvetube forms a combined valve and outlet for the container and is normallyurged axially outwardly of the valve cap to a closed position. The upperportion 6 of the valve tube extends axially outwardly of the top 2 ofthe primary cap and is depressible relative to the remaining portion ofthe valve tube to provide an opening for the dispensing of the contentsof the container 4. The specific construction of the valve tube isconventional and per se forms no part of the present invention.

Releasably attached to the primary cap 1 is a rigid metal collar member7. Advantageously, this member may be decorative in nature and willencompass the primary cap and the upper end of the container 4. Thecollar member is cup-shaped and provided with a centrally apertured top8 and cylindrical skirt 9. The inner diameter of the upper portion ofthe skirt 9 adjacent the top 8 is substantially the same as the outerdiameter of the primary cap 1 so as to form a press fit when the collarand cap are assembled in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Also, as shown inFIG. 1, the lower portion of the skirt of the collar member is enlargedto provide an opening 10 for the reception of the upper end of thecontainer 4.

With the collar member assembled onto the primary cap, the depressibleportion 6 of the valve tube extends axially through its apertured top 8and for effecting a depression of the valve tube portion 6, an actuatingcap 11 is provided. The actuator cap is cup-shaped and is provided withan insert member 12 at its upper end for connection to the valve portion6. Specifically, the insert member is press fit into the actuating capand is provided with a shoulder 13 which is frictionally secured to thevalve portion 6 of the tube 5. Also, the insert means is provided with apassageway 13 for connecting the valve tube 5 to the exterior of theactuating cap through an opening 14 provided in the cap.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the collarmember 7 is releasably secured to the primary cap 1 so that relativerotation between the two is prevented when the composite cap is threadedonto or unthreaded from the associated container 4. The lockingarrangement for preventing this relative rotation, nevertheless, permitsaxial movement of the collar with respect to the primary cap so that itis merely necessary to force the collar member axially over the primarycap to position it in operative, locked relationship therewith. Thisarrangement also permits the removal of the collar member from theprimary cap, if desired, by opposite axial movement of the collar andcap relative to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the skirt portion 9 of the collar member isformed with a plurality of elongated locking elements 15'18' havinglocking edges 15 18. These locking edges extend from the top 8 of thecollar member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 19 of thecollar member. As shown in FIG. 3, the locking elements 15-18 are formedby axially extending indentations on the outer surface of the skirtportion of the collar member. Also, it will be noted from FIG. 3 thatthese locking edges face circumferentially of the collar member, two inthe clockwise direction and two in the counterclockwise direction.

Upon assembly of the collar member onto the deformable plastic primarycap, these locking edges will indent or cut into the skirt portion ofthe primary cap, and due to the fact that the edges face in the twoopposite directions circumferentially of the primary cap, relativerotation of the collar member with respect to the primary cap in eitherdirection is efiiectively prevented. Accordingly, it is possible tocompletely tighten the composite cap onto the threaded opening of theassociated container to prevent possible leakage without any tendencyfor the collar member to slip during this tightening. Also, in removingthe composite cap from the container, rotation of the collar member inthe unwinding will positively unthread the primary cap without anyslippage resulting.

As indicated above, the locking edges of the collar member extend fromthe upper end 8 of the collar member so that the lines of indentationformed in the primary cap-1 will also extend from the upper end 2 of thecap. With this construction, the collar member may be re moved from theprimary cap without gouging or destroying the outer surface of the capwhich will tend to take on its original shape after removal of thecollar. This is so since the line of exit defined by the indentationsformed in the primary cap will extend directly to the edge of its skirtportion 3 adjacent its upper end 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the actuating cap 11 previously described isprovided with an elongated skirt 20 which encompasses the upper end ofthe collar member 7 and, in turn, covers the indentations 15'18' formedon the outer surface of the collar member. This actuating cap is heldonto the composite cap solely by the engagement of the insert means withthe depressible valve portion of the valve tube. Also, the skirt portionis spaced from the skirt of the collar member 7 to prevent any marringof the collar member upon depression of the actuating cap when effectinga discharge of the contents from the container.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 3, the collar member 7 may be provided withoutwardly projecting ribs 21 along the enlarged portion of its skirt.These ribs are adapted to extend outwardly of the collar member so as tofrictionally engage a cover 22 shown in phantom in FIG. 1 that may beattached over the composite cap to prevent accidental depressing thereofwhile being carried about by the user.

The above description has been made with reference to the preferredembodiment of the present invention, and it is to be understood thatvarious changes may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A composite cap structure for connection to a threaded open portionof a container adapted to hold a product comprising:

(a) a deformable cup-shaped primary cap having a top and threadedcylindrical skirt portion adapted to be threaded onto the threadedportion of said container;

(b) a cup-shaped rigid collar member having a cylindrical skirt portionslidably and telescopically received over said primary cap, and

(c) a plurality of locking elements on the inner surface of the skirtportion of said collar member with each element terminating in aradially inwardly extending locking edge facing circumferentially of theskirt portion of said collar member with at least one of said edgesfacing in a direction opposite to that of the remaining edges forlocking said skirt portions together against relative rotation.

2. A composite dispensing cap structure for connection to the threadedopen portion of a container adapted to hold a product to be dispensedcomprising:

(a) a deformable cup-shaped primary cap having a top and threadedcylindrical skirt portion adapted to be threaded onto the threaded openportion of said container;

(b) a dispensing tube connected to said primary cap and having anexposed outlet end extending axially through said top along thelongitudinal axis of said skirt portion;

(0) a cup-shaped rigid collar member having a centrally apertured topand a cylindrical skirt portion slidably and telescopically receivedover said primary cap with the exposed outlet end of said tube extendingaxially through said apertured top; and

(d) a plurality of locking elements on the inner surface of the skirtportion of said collar member with each element terminating in aradially inwardly extending locking edge facing circumferentially of theskirt portion of said collar member with at least one of said edgesfacing in a direction opposite to that of the remaining edges forlocking said skirt portions together against relative rotation.

3. A composite dispensing cap structure for connection to the threadedopen portion of a container adapted to hold a product to be dispensedcomprising:

(a) a deformable cup-shaped primary cap having a top and threadedcylindrical skirt portion adapted to be threaded onto the threaded openportion of said container;

(b) a valve dispensing tube connected to said primary cap and having anexposed outlet end extending axially through said top along thelongitudinal axis of said skirt portion;

(0) a cup-shaped metal collar member having a centrally apertured topand cylindrical skirt portion slidably and telescopically received oversaid primary cap with the exposed outlet end of said tube extendlIlgaxially through said apertured top;

((1) a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially extendingindentations on the outer surface of the skirt portion of said collarmember forming elongated locking elements on the inner surface thereofwith each of said elements located at and coextensive with acorresponding indentation and terminating in radially inwardly extendinglocking edges facing circumferentially of the skirt portion of saidcollar member and into locking engagement with the skirt portion of saidprimary cap and with at least one of said edges facing in a directionopposite that of the remaining edges thereby holding said collar on saidprimary cap against relative rotation with respect thereto; and

(e) a cup-shaped valve actuator cap mounted on the exposed outlet end ofsaid dispensing tube for controlling the dispensing of product throughsaid valve dispensing tube and having a cylindrical skirt portiontelescopically encompassing the skirt portion of said collar member andthe indentations on the outer surface thereof.

4. A composite dispensing cap structure according to claim 3 wherein (a)said collar member is press fitted on said primary cap with the opposedsurfaces of the tops thereof in abutment with each other; and

(b) said locking edges extend along the inner surface of said collarmember from the top thereof.

5. A composite dispensing cap structure for connection to the threadedopen portion of a container adapted to hold liquid contents comprising:

(a) a deformable plastic cup-shaped primary valve cap with a valvepassage therethrough and having a top and threaded skirt portion adaptedto be threaded onto the threaded open portion of said container;

(b) an axially depressible valve actuator tube extending through the topof said primary valve cap and forming a combined valve actuator andoutlet f said container and normally urged axially outwardly of saidvalve cap to a closed position;

(c) a cup-shaped metal collar member having an apertured top andcylindrical skirt portion slidably telescoped over said primary valvecap with said combined valve actuator and outlet thereof extendingaxially through said apertured top;

(d) a plurality of locking elements on the inner surface of the skirtportion of said collar member with each element terminating in aradially inwardly extending locking edge facing circumferentially of theskirt portion of said collar member with at least one of said edgesfacing in a direction opposite to that of the remaining edges forlocking said skirt portions together against relative rotation.

(e) a cup-shaped actuating cap having a top and cylindical skirt portiontelescopically received over said collar member with its skirt portionspaced radially from the skirt portion of said collar member; and

(f) insert means in said actuating cap frictionally secured to saidvalve actuator tube and forming a passage leading to the exterior ofsaid actuating cap for the discharge of the liquid contents from thecontainer, said insert means having a tube-engaging shoulder foroperating said valve actuator upon relative telescopic axial movement ofsaid actuating cap and collar member.

6. A composite dispensing cap structure according to valve cap with theopposed surfaces of the tops thereof in abutment with each other; and

(b) said locking edges extend along the inner surface of said collarmember from the top thereof.

7. A composite dispensing cap structure according to claim 6 wherein (a)said locking elements are defined by indentations formed on the outersurface of the skirt portion of said collar member; and

(b) the skirt portion of said actuating cap covers said indentations.

8. A composite dispensing cap structure according to claim 7 wherein twopairs of locking elements are provided on said collar member equallyspaced about the circumference of the skirt portion thereof with thelocking edges of each pair facing in opposite directions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,276,768 8/ 1918Hoyle et a1. 22029 3,013,700 12/1961 Steinkamp 222-182 3,017,203 1/ 1962Macleod 285256 3,167,217 1/1965 Corsette et al 222-182 3,203,577 8/1965Parker 222-482 X 3,216,625 11/ 1965 Corsette 222-182 RAPHAEL M. LUPO,Primary Examiner.

N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner.

1. A COMPOSITE CAP STRUCTURE FOR CONNECTION TO A THREADED OPEN PORTIONOF A CONTAINER ADAPTED TO HOLD A PRODUCT COMPRISING: (A) A DEFORMABLECUP-SHAPED PRIMARY CAP HAVING A TOP AND THREADED CYLINDRICAL SKIRTPORTION ADAPTED TO BE THREADED ONTO THE THREADED PORTION OF SAIDCONTAINER; (C) A CUP-SHAPED RIGID COLLAR MEMBER HAVING A CYLINDRICALSKIRT PORTION SLIDABLY AND TELESCOPICALLY RECEIVED OVER SAID PRIMARYCAP, AND (C) A PLURALITY OF LOCKING ELEMENTS ON THE INNER SURFACE OF THESKIRT PORTION OF SAID COLLAR MEMBER WITH EACH ELEMENT TERMINATING IN ARADIALLY INWARDLY EXTENDING LOCKING EDGE FACING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THESKIRT PORTION OF SAID COLLAR MEMBER WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID EDGESFACING IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THAT OF THE REMAINING EDGES FORLOCKING SAID SKIRT PORTIONS TOGETHER AGAINST RELATIVE ROTATION.